Letters to the editor for Sunday, November 4, 2012

Sunday

Nov 4, 2012 at 2:00 AM

The administration and Obama did not admit that the attack on our consulate was a "terrorist attack" until two weeks-plus after the event. In his talk at the Rose Garden the day after the attack, Obama did refer to terrorism in general but not specifically to the Benghazi attack.

The administration and Obama did not admit that the attack on our consulate was a "terrorist attack" until two weeks-plus after the event. In his talk at the Rose Garden the day after the attack, Obama did refer to terrorism in general but not specifically to the Benghazi attack.

In fact, both his secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, and ambassador to the U.N., Susan Rice, parroted repeatedly that the attack was a spontaneous demonstration in protest to the insensitive video on the Muslim faith. What utter hogwash — this was a deliberate attack.

In actuality, the attack wasn't declared a "terrorist attack" until Sept. 27, when Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta described it as such. What a lot of spin is going on here and what a disgrace for the media's report.

Four American citizens died in this attack and your management allowed this statement. I chuckle when I hear our media say there is no freedom of the press in China or Russia. At this time in America, is it any better?

Nick Abbagliato

Marlboro

Once again the Record has attacked Middletown, this time through a misleading headline. The story on gun violence had nothing to do with Middletown other than the fact that it was held at SUNY Orange and included a Middletown detective as one of the speakers.

I'm tired of the misconception that Middletown is a den of iniquity. The streets are safe, the businesses are thriving and people care. How about writing about actual events like the Run 4 Downtown, which you failed to report on and which occurred two blocks from your main office?

Or maybe you could write about other downtown events. I live here, I work here and I play here. I'd actually like to read about here in an accurate story with an accurate headline. Are you up for the challenge?

Tracy Racine

Middletown

"City of Newburgh — finances are in the red." Seriously? We have only our council members to blame for the 41 percent (and more to come) tax increase; the City Council hired a manager who "doesn't work with budgets," and who searched the mirror, mirror-on-the wall ... to fill this position ... those of whom cannot identify if a budget's bottom line is in the black or red ... seriously?

They are all colorblind, indeed; we need not have the blind leading the blind leading the City of Newburgh. They should be replaced posthaste, acting city manager and all. Is there any school-tax-payer who honestly believes we cannot do better than this?

Any idiot "acting or not" can manage with an open checkbook; we have seen our share of those. We do not need more taxpayer dependents. What we need is a professional manager, one who can work within a budget, and cannot work without one; now we are selling landmarks.

Finally, something else to ponder in the interim: Does the City of Newburgh actually have the number of residents of a "city" of status by federal government standards?